The Paradise of Thorns – Movie Review & Film Summary

Thongkam and Sek are a gay couple who invested their life savings into starting a durian orchard. Thongkam even sold his house to help fund the business. Although the orchard is barely profitable, they live happily together. They decide to get married, even though their relationship isn't legally recognized.

Durian grows high in trees, so caring for them requires climbing and inspecting the fruit. One night, while Sek is up a tree, he falls and suffers a severe injury. Thongkam rushes him to the hospital, where doctors determine he needs surgery to stop a brain hemorrhage. However, they refuse to proceed without a family member's signature. Thongkam's status as Sek's husband is not recognized. Sadly, he's only considered a friend.

Thongkam must call Sek's only relative to approve the medical procedure. Sek's mother, Saeng, lives in a remote village. This senior woman uses a wheelchair and relies on daily assistance. Saeng lives with Mo, a caregiver who raised her like a daughter. After receiving the call, Saeng urgently prepares to travel to the hospital with Mo's help. With limited transportation options at night, they set out on a motorcycle. On the way, Mo loses control, and both are injured in an accident.

Saeng and Mo arrive at the hospital too late. Sek needed urgent surgery to survive, but without it, he succumbs to his injuries. Her son's death left Saeng overwhelmed with grief. As her unofficial son-in-law, Thongkam tries to comfort the bereaved mother, promising to take care of her needs. Thongkam assures her that he'll continue sending profits from the durian orchard, just as Sek always did. Curious about her son's work, Saeng asks to see the orchard, so Thongkam drives her and Mo there.

After arriving at the orchard, Saeng drops a bombshell. As Sek's mother, she legally inherits the rights to the orchard. The property deed is only in Sek's name, so ownership passes to her after his death. Thongkam argues that he is Sek's husband and has invested all his money into the business, yet the law does not recognize their relationship. He also has no documents to prove his ownership. Thongkam watches as Saeng moves into the orchard and takes over the business. Thongkam vows to reclaim what he and Sek created together.

The Paradise of Thorns starts innocently enough. A gay couple lives happily together, tending to their beloved orchard. Aww, what a peaceful life! And then, everything goes to hell… The movie quickly turns into a twisted tale of betrayal and family feuds, where everyone has a hidden agenda. Just when you think the story is heading in one direction, another scandal shakes things up. Who can you trust??? I love how the filmmaker keeps us guessing, introducing unpredictable twists that make the movie even juicier.

LGBTQ+ inequality becomes central to the story. Early on, a heartbreaking scene shows the hospital not recognizing Thongkam as Sek's husband. Imagine sharing your life with someone, only for the law to treat you like a stranger. The injustice continues when Thongkam faces legal obstacles because his relationship isn't officially recognized. These scenes remind us why marriage equality matters. Thailand has since legalized same-sex marriage, but The Paradise of Thorns reminds us of the discrimination that existed for decades. Many LGBTQ+ couples around the world still face similar struggles today.

The Paradise of Thorns takes the saying "money changes people" to a new level. Once Thongkam gets into a dispute with Sek's family, the orchard becomes the centre of an ugly power struggle. I love how the story refuses to paint its characters as simply good or evil. Saeng and Mo may seem like the villains, yet I can understand their desperation. The movie has a habit of turning every disagreement into an explosive showdown. Calm down, everyone! You're fighting over an orchard, not the entire kingdom of Thailand! Still, each conflict makes me emotionally invested.

Jeff Satur delivers a gorgeous performance as the leading man. First of all, those soulful eyes! He has such a delicate way of expressing sadness, making Thongkam seem vulnerable even when he puts on a brave face. I can't imagine anyone else playing this role quite as beautifully. The actresses are equally impressive, bringing so much intensity to their characters. One of my favourite moments comes near the end, when Jeff and his co-star (Engfa Waraha) deliver a powerful scene together. Oh my god, the anguish! Engfa is fantastic at conveying Mo's despair.

The Paradise of Thorns features two gay couples. They're not shy about showing physical affection. However, the romances aren't as compelling as the rest of the story. Sek and Thongkam seem like a sweet couple in the beginning, but their happy relationship barely gets a chance to develop before the angst takes over. As for Jingna's romance, I struggle to feel invested. The characters fall in love so quickly that I'm left wondering what they see in each other. If you're watching The Paradise of Thorns purely for the BL, you may find the love stories underwhelming.

I spent two hours watching The Paradise of Thorns, and not once did I feel bored. Every time the story settles down, another conflict erupts and gets my adrenaline pumping again. Beyond the thrilling story, I also adore the artistic presentation. The creators behind I Told Sunset About You bring the same cinematic brilliance to this movie, making everything look stunning. By the finale, I need a moment to recover from all these intense emotions. The Paradise of Thorns is a beautiful production with captivating performances. Its gripping drama kept me hooked until the very end.